Wheeled toy



G. WPGIOMBER WHEELED 'TQL Filed Sept. 22, 11921 INVENTOR Gear a, oiner ATTOR NEY Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

GEORGE W. GOMBER, 0F GONYNGHAM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO A. W. DRAKE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed September 22, 1921.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, GEORGE 1V. GoMBnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gonyngham, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Wheeled Toy, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to toys, and particularly to that class known as wheeled toys wherein the device is adapted to be drawn along the ground to cause the rotation of bearing wheels and resulting in certain actuation of a figure or figures, connected thereto, in simulation of the natural motions of said figures.

The object is to provide certain strengthening means for such toys consistingprincipally in the provision of a main frame therefor, which may be formed of a single length of wire, so bent and shaped as to provide bearings for the front and rear axles, and forwardly of the front axle a fender-shaped portion having means for the attachment of a drawing cord, the balance of the structure including the wheels and the figures, together with the manner of mounting and operating the same, being substantlally, the same as shown, described and claimed in the co-pending application, filed by me, of even date herewith, Serial No. 502,341, filed September 22, 1921.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawings show practical forms of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity therewith, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention,

as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the invention showing three figures to be actuated thereby, in the form of horseback riders.

Figure 2 is an inverted plan view of the same.

F re 31 a s de el vation of a ions 1 WHEELED TOY.

Serial No. 502,342.

the invention wherein a team of horses are shown drawing a cart or wagon.

Figure 4 is an inverted plan view of the same.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a form showing a team of horses in connect-ion with a sulky and having a driver thereon.

Figure 6 is an inverted plan view of the same.

- Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, three figures 1 of running horses having riders or jockeys mounted on their backs, and the said horses and riders may be formed from a single piece of stout thin wood or beaver board or other wood substitute suitably painted or decorated to represent the desired features, and the same may have similar outlines, though preferably painted or decorated differently to enhance the naturalness thereof.

Each horse is provided with a forwardly extending stiff wire standard 2 rigidly secured thereto and located near the front legs thereof, reaching forwardly and downwardly with a lateral offset 3 extending beneath the legs of the horse and terminating in a transverse bearing sleeve 4 in the form of a coil, all of said sleeves being in horizontal alinement for the reception of the front axle 5 having front carrying wheels 6 rigidly mounted on its ends. The construction of standard as shown and described is not specifically claimed in this application, but is made the subject of claims inmy aforesaid co-pending application. i

The rear axle 7 is provided at its ends with'drive wheels 8, which are rigidly secured thereto so as to cause a rotation of the axle when the device is drawn forwardly, and the said axle is provided with intermediate bends constituting cranks 9 arranged at different angles with relation to each other, and adapted to have the lower ends of pitmen "10 secured thereto, as by means of an eye formed of the wire coniposing the saidpitmen, the latter preferably having angular bends 11 and having their upper forward ends pivotally connected to the rear portions of the figures 1, as by means of screws 12 traversing eyes 13 formed in the upper ends of the said pitmen.

One feature of novelty herein resides in it) the main frame formed of a single length of stout wire bent intermediately of its ends to form side bars 14, joined at their front ends by the intermediate portion of said len 'th of Wire and constituting a front fender or draw-bar 15 arranged in front of the front axle, and having a forwardly extending loop 16 for the purpose of attaching a string in order to draw the toy in a forward direction, as will be readily understood. The side bars tie the two axles together and hold them in rigid relation to each other.

The rear ends of the side bars are farther apart than the front ends thereof and terminate in bearing eyes 17 adapted to receive the rear axle and allow the same to freely rotate therein. The side bars are also bent into forward bearing eyes 18 for the reception of the front axle, which also turns freely inthe same.

It will be seen that when the device is drawn forwardly, the rear wheels will turn the rear axle in the bearings 17 of the main frame, and that the several cranks will rise and fall at different times by reason of their angular relation, thus causing the several figures to partake of said rising and falling movement in a similar manner and to give the appearance of a number of horses or other animals or figures in the act of racing, the front standards merely pivoting on the front axle to permit of such motions.

In Figures 3 and 4: of the drawings, substantially the same structure is employed for mounting and actuating the horses or other animals and the same reference characters are applied thereto. The front wheels 6, however, in the form, are composed of a length of wire bent to form a circular rim having an integral spoke 6 terminating at the center of the wheel in a hub-like coil 6, which firmly grasps the ends of the front axle so as to prevent their detachment from the same.

In like manner the rear axle 7 is provided at its terminals with wire wheels 8 formed and attached in the same manner, and the pitmen 10 are somewhat longer than the first described form and have the angular bends l1, and are attached to the figures l in the same manner, the distance between the front and rear wheels being considerably longe than that shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A wagon bodylQ, which may beformed of tin or beaver board, is moiuited over the rear axle, and in the rear of the extended hind legs of the horses'or figures 1, front and rear bolsters and 21, respectively, formed of wire, being employed to support said Wagon body, the said Wire being bent to form a transverse bar for at-tachment'to the wagon body and having terminal legs provided with eyes, the eyes 20 of the front bolster being arranged to receive the side bars 14 of the main frame and the rear bolster eyes 21" receiving the rear axle 7 as clearly shown in Figure 4.

The main frame of this second form of the device is precisely the same as the first described form, and isattached to the axles in the same manner, one difference in the structures residing in the fact that only two figures are shown, and also two cranks and pit-men.

In Figures 5 and 6 a pair of horses 1. are shown mounted in the same manner and adapted to be actuated in the same way. A sulky seat 22 is shown, however, having a driver 23 mounted thereon and held by a screw 24.- fitting into a vertical slot 25 formed in a cleat 26 suitably secured to the seat 22, the said slot being open at its upper end so that the driver may be readily detached therefrom when desired. A seat support formed of wire is usedto hold the seat in position, the same beingbent to form front legs 27 and rear legs 28 suitably secured to the main frame and the rear axle respectively, and carrying said scat tlSflWll as a. foot rest or dash 29 which is suitably secured to said front legs 27.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple and cheaply manufactured frame for toys of the class illustrated, described and claimed in the aforementioned co-pending application has been provided.

What is claimed is 1. A wheeled toy having a main horizontally disposed frame formed of a single length of stiff wire and bent to provide a pair of spaced longitudinal side bars joined at their front ends by a transverse integral drawbar provided with a forwardly extending loop, said side bars terminating at their free, rear ends in bearing eyes for a rear axle, and having near the front drawbar alined bearing eyes for a front axle, said draw bar being arranged in front of and spaced from the front axle and serving as a fender.

2. In a wheeled toy, the combination of the front axle, therear axle, wheels for said axles, the rear axle having a plurality of cranks, a plurality of figures, individual connections between each crank of the rear axle and the rear port-ion of each figure, individual conneotionsbetween the front portion of each figure and the front axle, said connections causing the figures to rise and fall, the front connections turning on the front axle, and a main frame connecting the said axles and tying them together. said main frame being independent of said conn'ections and arranged outside the latter.

3. In a wheeled toy, the combination of the front axle, the rear axle, wheels "for said axles, the rear axle having a plurality of cranks, aplurality of figures, individual connections between each crank of the rear axle ion lit)

and the rear portion of each figure, individual connections between the ront portion of each figure and the front axle, said connections causing the figures to rise and fall, and constituting the sole supporting means for the figures and holding the latter out of contact With the axles, the front connections each comprising a standard terminating in a transversely arranged bearing, each bearing being fitted to turn on the front axle and arranged along the latter, and a main frame connecting the said axles and tying them together independently of the said individual connections and arranged outside the latter, said frame having bearings for the said axles, the bearings for the front axle engaging the said first mentioned bearings.

a. In a wheeled toy, the combination of the front axle, the rear axle, Wheels for said axles, the rear axle having a plurality of cranks, a plurality of figures, individual connections between each crank of the rear axle and the rear portion of each figure, individual connections between the front portion of each figure and the front axle, said connections causing the figures to rise and fall, the front connections turning on the front axle, amain frame connecting the said axles and tying them together, said main frame being independent of said conneotions and a vehicle 'body arranged in rear of the figure and having supports connected respectively to the rear axle and the main frame.

5. A toy comprising a frame formed from a continuous piece of Wire, tWo axles for said frame, one of said axles being in the form of a crank shaft, Wheels on said axles, a figure, and standards at each end of the figure fixed thereto, one of said standards being pivoted to the crank of said crank shaft, and the other standard terminating in a. bearing sleeve which embraces the other axle.

6. A toy comprising a frame formed of a continuous piece of Wire, two axles for said frame, one of said axles being in the form of a crank shaft having a plurality of cranks, Wheels on said axles, a plurality of figures spaced apart, and Wire standards at each end of each figure and fixed thereto, the standards at one end of said figures be ing pivoted at one end to the separate cranks of said crank shaft, and the standards at the other end of said figures terminating in a transversely disposed bearing sleeve, said sleeves embracing the other axle and arranged therein in consecutive order between the sides of the frame.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

GEORGE W. GOMBER. 

